---
title: "Dominant Caste: Srinivas's Concept Explained"
description: "A dominant caste holds significant numerical, economic, and political power in a region, influencing social authority over other castes in India."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/dominant-caste"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- A dominant caste is a caste that holds preponderant numerical strength, economic resources, and political power within a village or region, enabling it to exercise social authority over other castes.
- Who coined the term 'dominant caste' and when?
- How does a dominant caste differ from an upper caste?
- What are the defining attributes of a dominant caste?
- Why do economically dominant castes demand reservations?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

A dominant caste is a caste that holds preponderant numerical strength, economic resources, and political power within a village or region, enabling it to exercise social authority over other castes.

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In Karnataka's 2023 Assembly elections, the Congress and BJP competed for the Vokkaliga and Lingayat vote, the two dominant castes whose regional numerical and landed strength has shaped the state's politics since M.N. Srinivas first studied Vokkaliga dominance in 1955.

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